The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-04
SWORDSMEN IN INDIA.
Wonderful Skill Displayed by the Men
of the East With Their Keen Blades.
From The English Mechanic.

Wonderful Skill Displayed by the Men
of the East With Their Keen Blades.
From The English Mechanic.
The high-class damGscened and exquisitely
tempered blades, the curved cimeter of
extra hard steel and the keen weapons of
highly finished durability came to India
with those mighty conquerorS of the East,
the Mohammedans, whose descendants
under the victorious and peace-promotinS
British rule can no longer follow the craft,
disarming being the prevailing regime. The
comparatively few sword blades of sterling
quality nowadays are only to be found in
the palaces of loyal princes, most of them
heirlOoms in their arnories Before the
great mukiny every native, even mental
servants, carried sword; the peasant at
his pillow wore the weapon of defense !;
so did the harmless wanderer in search
of employ, and the black soldier on short
leave. 1t was national appendage, due to
the unsettled state Of popular feelings and
printed and shouted the great text of the
false prophet 1.-The Sword is the Key of
Heaven and Hell;o while the quiet HindoO
frequented midnight meetings and brought
his teghar, or village sabre, to razor edge.
The quiet dweer in England will scarcely
believe the prodigieS performed in sword
cutting by these coarse, Unlocking bits of
curved metal costing no more than two
shillings. The Engishman can excel in
everything if he chooses to master the OBJ
ject. Not less than half dozen, perhaps
even a dozen, have attained such swords
manship with the oriental weapon as to be
acknowledged champions, the title of ''mas-
ter of the sword being bestowed on them
by universal consent
had shot numerous wild beasts when /
was told by an expert that my hunting
education was very deficient, as / could not
handle a cimiter to stop my game. was
told to exercise continually on pillar of
soft clay, and thus acquire the drawing cut
at the proper part of the blade; then on a
pillar loosely stuffed with cotton; then on a
newly killed wildcat or jackal kneaded
previous TO the practice by the feet of a
heavy man till the carcass became a loose,
soft mass; then on great pond carp, fish
clad with heavy, horny scales, like elastic
mail, considered an Al feat to test man and
sword My first trial at this experiment re-
suited in a triple fracture of the good
blade, sundry scales flying in the air,
uncut, only dislodged; then the
artistic tour de force at paper
thrown up to a height-all manner of
strange and difficult tasks which, being only
ornamental, | eventually forsook for the
useful and more easy decapitation of fierce
quadrupeds, beginning with a wounded
wild hog of full growth, and on essaying
the sloping stroke behind the ear, sweeping
off the head nearly, that important part
dropping between the fore feet. Not long
before | had seen bold young Ghoorka
princelipg dismount from his elephant,
leaving it standing to await his return, and
follow on foot alone an immense boar he had
wounded with his rifle. On nearing the
powerful brute it champed its foamy tusks
TO charge. He drew his koolree or ne
paulse sword, and, as it it sprang at him,
the blade was buried across piggy's back, all
but severing him in two parts.
Perhaps readers viii not credit my state
ment Of village peasants, with a sword and
shield attacking and slashing full grown
tiger when one of these powerful animals
has strayed from the forest into their fields
Yet have often known such encounters, a
man or two always killed and several
wounded, the tigers skin spoiled, too by
the long, deep cuts of their teghars. | saw
a champion swordsman, native soldier,
who went into the rose bushes alone with
no other weapon-shield on shoulder. His
cuts were mastery; but the bold man was
soon struck down and severely
mauled. A crowd came to the res
cue dIlO oIIOb bIO DtdSUs Jub DGTO
recovered "The manly weapon is
its designation. In their party fights each
side would swear that no other deadly arm
should be used. accordingly witnessed one
of these combats. Swordsmen, shield on
arm, in twos and threes, came running to
the scene of quarrel-a cows trespass. 1t
was an exciting event. Clansmen were con-
tinually arriving, and every man selected
his foe. 1t was grand sword play The
head, legs and arms seemed to be the chief
points of attack. Being a British subject,
passing through an independent State, was
obliged to gallop off as fast as my horse
could go at the commencement of this bat
tie
At the same time and place, near my
camp, two brothers fought duel about
land One was killed, the other well
slashed. In two or three days / passed by
a battle royal. The King Of Dudes troops
were besieging some refractory land owners
who refused to pay rents. Heavy cannon
were booming around and musketry crack
ing; the village swordsman and feudal re-
tainers, under cover of night, made many a
daring sally, and left the print of their
teghars on Moslem limbs. | saw blood
stained bodies on rude cots being carried
away to their homes. The unequal struggle
had already lasted three days. That tough
and stubborn peasantry could boast that in
long years they had never once been de-
feated-no, not even by regular troops.
Among some military trophies / once saw
a very rude, rusty teghar-locally worth
shilling-which had cleanly decapitated a
raw recruit. severing coat collar, brass
buckle and caste necklace of hard enamel
beads The nimble village rebel had sprung
on the sepoy from ambush while trimming
his fintlOck after u nIisfire This and all
the ow-priced teShars and tulwars are of
very soft metal, capable of being bent and
Strengthened across the blade, while the
arch or cutting portion, with razor edge
offers immense resistance in the hands of an
expert, who, behind his shield, can watch
and measure his opportunity Only the
straight thrust of British bayonets or dragon
blades can reach them.
The metal and finish of cutting arms i'm
prove when we enter North India. Hard
steel of fine temper and high workmanship
used to be common until two Sikh wars and
the great mutiny abolished the demand for
such deadly wares. The skillful Moham-
medan craftsman had to emgrate for a
livelihood, or too often dwindled into a
blacksmith OF harmless occupation. | re-
member in the good old times of the East
India Company itinorant sword peddlers.
Persans and Afghans of great stature and
big turbans
do You want any swords"
Eyes, but where are theyp
Here" and the vendors hands were
lifted 10 his head cloth, where they groped